Business website cost — what you actually pay for
Website cost isn't a single number; it has two separate parts: setup and ongoing. Most small businesses look at the first number and decide, then struggle with the second. This guide breaks down the real cost structure of four paths, their hidden expenses, and when each makes sense.
Cost structure of four paths
| Setup | Monthly/yearly | Making changes | Risk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agency | High, one-time | Maintenance contract | Request, wait in queue | Vendor lock-in |
| Freelancer | Medium, one-time | Usually none | If you can reach them | Site becomes orphaned |
| WordPress (self-hosted) | Low but time-consuming | Hosting + theme + plugins | Yourself | Updates/incompatibility |
| Ready-made platform | Minimal | Single subscription | Yourself, instant | Platform dependency |
Invisible line items — the real difference
- Domain: yearly, varies by extension. First year discounted, renewal price can be high.
- SSL: automatic and free on platforms; unnecessary expense if bought separately.
- Email:
info@business.cominstead ofgmail— most packages charge extra. - Photography: stock licenses or shooting. Most often overlooked.
- Change requests: with agencies/freelancers, not in the price list, appears on the invoice.
- Add-ons: in WordPress, each feature is a separate plugin, most charged monthly.
- Maintenance and updates: WordPress plugin updates can break your site; repairs take time.
Decision rule for small business
Agency makes sense — if the job needs custom design and integration, budget exists, and it's a corporate account.
Freelancer makes sense — if it's one-time, scope is clear, and you won't need changes afterward.
WordPress makes sense — if you have technical interest and don't count your time as free.
Ready-made platform makes sense — if your main job is hairdressing, baking, consulting, and you want to change price/hours/products without waiting. Most small businesses fit here.
Is "free site" really free?
Free plans usually have: platform ads, platform subdomain, limited pages, no payment collection. Fine for a brochure; but if you'll take orders or appointments, you need your own domain and payment infrastructure. With Wibigo, you can start free, add content, and move to your own domain without losing anything.
Detail: Use a free Wibigo subdomain · Buy a new domain
Three cost-cutting decisions
- Combine into one product. Site + appointments + store + CRM in one subscription is cheaper and avoids integration headaches.
- Invest in photography, not design. Visitors don't notice template style, but they notice bad photos.
- Make small changes yourself. Twenty small changes per year × agency cost often exceeds an annual subscription.
Common mistakes
Looking only at setup cost. Calculate two-year total cost of ownership.
Putting off payment infrastructure. If you'll take orders, set it up from day one; adding later costs time and money.
Getting domain for someone else's account. Your domain should be in your account.
Saying "we'll do SEO later." If title, description, and page structure are right from the start, later SEO work shrinks. See Improve your SEO
Frequently asked questions
How long until live? Ready-made platform: minutes–hours; agency/freelancer: weeks.
Can I move later? Content is yours; as long as your domain is yours, you can move.
Is there a payment fee? Card processing uses Stripe's rate; Wibigo takes no commission.
Can I create invoices? Yes, branded PDF invoices generate from orders and appointments. See Create an invoice
Next: Build a website with AI · How to buy and connect a domain